Easy Chocolate Mousse Cake

Zoha Malik

by Zoha Malik

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Rated 4.70 out of 5

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This Easy Chocolate Mousse Cake is the perfect quick and easy make ahead dessert, requiring only 8 ingredients and 20 minutes of work. It is made of a light and soft chocolate genoise sponge cake, a delectable, creamy and perfectly set 2 ingredient chocolate mousse (no gelatin!), and a silky chocolate ganache on top to bring it all together. The cake is light and delicious, tastes like chocolate cake and ice cream had a baby!

A decadent slice of chocolate mousse cake topped with chocolate shavings rests on a white scalloped plate, garnished with two raspberries. A gold fork and another dessert plate are in the background.

There are very few things that I love more than chocolate, and this chocolate mousse cake is one of my most favorite chocolate treats! This was the first “fancy” recipe I learned as a kid, and I became completely obsessed with it. My favorite thing about this mousse cake is that it is SO fuss free, and uses my easy 2 ingredient chocolate mousse recipe which is made with just chocolate and cream (no eggs, no gelatin, no complicated steps) and still has the most delicious chocolatey flavor and perfectly set texture.

I originally shared this recipe in 2023, but have since tested it multiple times and updated it with new photos and helpful tips.

3 Components Of This Cake

This cake has 3 basic components, one of which is optional:

  • A chocolate genoise sponge cake. A light, airy base that perfectly complements the light texture of the mousse. If you prefer something richer, swap it out for my moist easy chocolate cake (halve all the quantities and make 1 9″ cake). You can even make an easier, no bake “cake” with chocolate biscuits, like I do in my no bake chocolate mousse cake!
  • Two ingredient chocolate mousse. The cake is topped with a light and creamy mousse made with chocolate and heavy cream
  • Chocolate ganache (optional). If you want your cake to have a more finished look, pour over a simple chocolate ganache once it has chilled. Alternatively, you can decorate with some chocolate whipped cream, like the one I use in my easy no bake chocolate cheesecake
A close-up of a chocolate mousse cake slice topped with chocolate shavings, showing creamy mousse and a chocolate genoise cake base, served on a white plate.

Picking The Right Chocolate

Of the 8 ingredients in this cake, chocolate is the most important as it defines the mousse’s flavor and texture.

  • Quality: Use good quality chocolate bars or callets (NOT chips!). I recommend Lindt Excellence Milk and Dark chocolates for an easy grocery store option, or Callebaut Milk and Dark chocolates for a premium choice
  • Type: For the perfectly set mousse, I recommend using semi-sweet chocolate (~50% cocoa), or a mixture of milk and dark chocolates. If you want, you can go with all dark chocolate and the mousse will be slightly firmer. However, I don’t recommend using all milk chocolate, as it makes a softer mousse that doesn’t hold shape for long at room temperature. If you use all milk chocolate, freeze the cake for 15 minutes before serving, or serve straight from a serving dish (e.g., pie dish)
A chocolate mousse cake with a chocolate genoise base, partly sliced to reveal its creamy texture and rich ganache, sits on a cake stand. A beige cloth and scattered raspberries are visible in the background.

How To Make Chocolate Mousse Cake

1. Make the chocolate genoise sponge

A wooden bowl with two raw eggs and a mound of sugar on a beige countertop, surrounded by small bowls of cocoa powder and salt, and a cloth with a checkered pattern.

Add the sugar and eggs to a bowl.

A wooden bowl with a creamy, pale mixture of egg and sugar sits on a light countertop. A beige plaid dish towel is partially visible in the background.

Whisk on medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes until the mixture is very light in color, triple in volume, and falls off the whisk in a ribbon. This is where you add air into the batter!

A wooden bowl containing a mixture of flour, cocoa powder, and liquid ingredients sits on a light countertop, with empty bowls and a checkered cloth nearby.

Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

A wooden bowl filled with chocolate genoise batter and a pink spatula resting inside. The bowl sits on a light countertop with a beige and white checkered cloth nearby, along with a few small bowls.

Use a rubber spatula to very slowly and gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.

A round baking pan filled with smooth genoise chocolate cake batter sits on a light marble countertop next to a beige and orange plaid kitchen towel.

Carefully pour the batter into a 9″ cake pan with parchment paper (no butter / oil!).

A round genoise chocolate cake in a white baking pan sits on a light countertop next to a beige and orange plaid kitchen towel.

Bake at 350F until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool in the pan, then remove & set aside.

2. Make the mousse

For detailed tips, I highly recommend reading my blog post on making this 2 ingredient chocolate mousse.

spoon mixing chocolate and hot cream to make ganache in a glass bowl

Start by making a ganache. Microwave cream and chocolate in 15-20 second burst until most of the chocolate has melted.

smooth, shiny dark chocolate ganache in a glass bowl with a spoon inside

Gently stir until a smooth, shiny ganache forms.

soft whipped cream in a glass bowl with a rubber spatula folding it gently

Separately, whisk heavy cream until it forms medium peaks.

whipped cream spooned on top of ganache in a glass bowl

Add a third of the whipped cream to the ganache and gently whisk it in.

rubber spatula folding ganache with whipped cream in a glass bowl. they are halfway mixed with some streaks of whipped cream visible

Add that mixture to the rest of the whipped cream, and gently fold it in.

process of mixing together whipped cream and ganache in a glass bowl, the mixture looks lighter in color and texture than a ganache

Try not to knock out the air. You should have a fluffy, smooth mousse mixture.

3. Assemble

A freshly baked round chocolate genoise cake in a pan lined with brown parchment paper, placed on a light-colored countertop with a beige and white checkered cloth in the background.

Line a 9″ springform pan with parchment paper on the bottom and sides. Place the cake inside.

A round genoise chocolate cake in a white baking pan sits on a light countertop next to a beige and orange plaid kitchen towel.

Pour in the mousse mixture on top and spread it out evenly.

Refrigerate overnight, or for at least 6 hours, until the mousse is set. Then carefully remove from the pan (more tips below!). Make the ganache for the top, let it cool down slightly, then pour on top of the chilled cake. Decorate with chocolate shavings, serve & enjoy!

A decadent chocolate mousse cake topped with chocolate shavings sits on a marble platter. One slice is being lifted out, revealing creamy layers inside. Raspberries are blurred in the background, highlighting the rich chocolate mousse cake.

Tips To Perfect The Genoise Sponge Cake

This is a really simple recipe, but you need to keep a few things in mind to get the genoise sponge cake right:

  • Weigh your ingredients, especially the flour and cocoa powder. Too much will result in a dry cake
  • Whip eggs and sugar well until triple in volume and pale in color – this is how you aerate the batter
  • Sift the dry ingredients to removes lumps and make them easier to fold in
  • Fold the dry ingredients very gently and do not overmix! Go around in a circle and then lift from the bottom, repeat. You need to keep in as much air as possible so the cake is light, not dense
  • Don’t overbake. A toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake should come out with just a few light crumbs. If you underbake, the cake will deflate, and if you overbake, it will become dry
  • If your cake feels a bit dry, place it upside down and brush some simple syrup on it before adding the mousse

How To Remove Mousse Cake From Pan

One dilemma with mousse cakes is that you have to assemble them in a pan that can hold the mousse while it sets, but then removing them from said pan can be quite tricky. Don’t worry, though, as you have a few different options:

  • Option 1: Acetate Collar. Wrap an acetate cake collar around the cooled sponge on your serving plate and secure with tape. Pour in the mousse and chill. Once set, simply remove the tape and unwrap, no transferring needed. I use this method for my mocha mousse cake with chocolate and mocha mousse layers
  • Option 2: Springform Pan. Line the springform pan with parchment, assemble the cake, and once set, release the sides and peel off the paper. You can serve it on the pan base (I used this method but flipped the cake to remove the base – honestly, not worth the extra effort and risk!)
  • Option 3: Serving Dish / Pie Dish. Instead of a pan, assemble the cake in a deep pish dish like this one, and serve directly from this dish like pie (you can even spoon it out!)
  • Option 4: Regular Cake Pan (least recommended). If using a standard cake pan, line it with parchment or cling wrap and freeze the cake for 20 minutes before removing to help it stay firm
A close-up of a sliced chocolate mousse cake with a light chocolate genoise sponge base, light and creamy chocolate mousse layer, and smooth ganache topping, all beautifully garnished with delicate chocolate shavings.
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A slice of easy chocolate mousse cake with chocolate shavings sits on a white plate, accompanied by fresh raspberries and a gold fork. Another plate with cake is visible in the background.

Easy Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe

by Zoha Malik

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.70 stars from 29 reviews

An easy chocolate mousse cake with a soft, airy chocolate sponge layered with a creamy two-ingredient mousse and finished with a shiny ganache.

Yield:10 servings

Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
12 mins
Chilling Time:
4 hrs
Total Time:
4 hrs, 30 mins

Ingredients

Chocolate Genoise Sponge Cake:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (50g)
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour (43g)
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder (12g)
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder

Chocolate Mousse:

  • 300g semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (~50% cocoa, or use an equal mixture of milk and dark chocolate like me)
  • 2 ½ cup heavy cream (600g); chilled and divided into 1 cup (240g) and 1 ½ cup (360g)

Chocolate Ganache (optional):

  • 80g chocolate (dark, milk or semi-sweet all ok)
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream (80g)

Instructions

Chocolate Genoise Sponge Cake:

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F and line a 9″ cake pan with parchment paper on the bottom; don’t grease the sides of the pan
  2. Whisk the eggs and sugar using an electric or stand mixer for 3-4 minutes until they triple in volume, become light in color and fall off the whisk in a ribbon. Do not rush this step
  3. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder, and use a rubber spatula to fold very gently and slowly until they are just combined. Take care not to knock out the air in the batter, and do not overmix as that can cause the cake to become dense
  4. Pour the batter into the pan, shake to spread it out, and bake for ~12-14 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with light, moist crumbs (almost clean, no wet batter)
  5. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully turn it out and place on a wire rack. In the meanwhile, prepare the mousse

Chocolate mousse:

  1. First, make a ganache with the chocolate and 1 cup (240g) heavy cream. Place the chopped chocolate in a bowl. Heat the cream on the stove until it just starts to simmer, and pour over the chocolate. Cover with a lid or plate and wait 3-5 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt. Then stir gently until you get a creamy smooth ganache. Let the ganache rest for 5 minutes
  2. Add the remaining 1 1/2 cup (360g) chilled cream to a large bowl. Use an electric hand mixer to whisk the cream for a few minutes until it reaches medium peaks and holds shape – take care not to overmix
  3. Add about a third of the whipped cream from step 2 into the ganache from step 1 (which should not be hot at this point), and use a rubber spatula or whisk to very gently and very slowly fold it in. Be gentle, and stop when they are mostly combined
  4. Add the whole mixture into the remaining whipped cream, and continue to gently and slowly fold. If you see any lumps of whipped cream, press down on them with your spatula to break them. Stop mixing as soon as the cream has fully mixed with the ganache. You should have a smooth and fluffy chocolate mousse

Assembly:

  1. Take a 9″ springform pan and line it with a parchment circle on the bottom and a strips of parchment on the sides, using a little butter or oil to stick the parchment to the pan (see images above). This will allow unmolding the cake easily
  2. Place the cooled cake inside the pan, and then pour over the chocolate mousse. Spread it evenly, and place in the fridge for at least 4 hours (or overnight) until the mousse has fully set

Chocolate Ganache (optional):

  1. If making a ganache to decorate, make it when the cake has chilled and you are ready to serve. Heat the cream to just boiling and pour over the chocolate in a bowl. Rest for 5 minutes, then stir to form a smooth ganache. 

Decoration & Serving:

  1. Once the cake has set, carefully release the edges of the springform pan and lift them off. Peel off the parchment carefully, and smooth the edges of the cake as needed
  2. The ganache should be warm but not hot, and still a runny consistency. If it is not runny, microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is. Pour the ganache on top of the chilled cake, and use an offset spatula to spread it, allowing some of it to drip down the edges of the cake
  3. Decorate with chocolate shavings (optional), slice, serve and enjoy!
  4. Keep the cake cold, and don’t leave it out for longer than 15-30 minutes (depending on room temperature)

Video Tutorial

Notes

  • Temperature: This chocolate mousse cake has no gelatin in it and relies on chocolate’s own solidification in the fridge to set. Therefore, it is important to keep it well chilled. Do not leave it out at room temperature for longer than 15-30 minutes, especially if it is hot, as it may start to soften and melt
  • Serving: Instead of a 9″ circle pan, you can also make this cake in a 8×8″ square pan, a 9″ pie dish, or bake in muffin cups and assemble in individual dessert cups
  • Assembling mousse cake: For more options on how to assemble and demold mousse cake, such as using an acetate collar or regular cake pan, read the blog post above 
  • Make ahead: You can make and assemble this cake ahead of time and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days before serving. Just make sure to wrap it well in cling film (or place in an airtight container) so the cake underneath does not dry out. Remove from pan and decorate with ganache when ready to serve
  • Storage and freezing: After serving, store leftover cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months

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Comments

  1. Naiomie

    My family and I usually dislike chocolate desserts, but I made this for my cousin on Mother’s Day. We all loved it and even licked the ganache bowl!🫣 It was my first time making ganache and mousse, and it was surprisingly easy without needing fancy ingredients for this decadent dessert.🤎

    1. Zoha

      Aww, this makes me so happy. Thank you for trying my recipe, Naiomie!

  2. Aminath

    I have been following you since long time. Your recipes are so tempting. I am someone who is fond of making moussecakes. Tried this one. Ingredients used was so easily available and simple to make. It turned out so perfect. Everyone loved it. The mousse was so airy and creamy. Its simply divine! Will be making again and again.
    Thankyou Zoha for always coming up with yummiest recipes and sharing it.

    1. Zoha

      Thank you so much, Aminath! Your support means the world to me

  3. Sharadhi Shetty

    Making this right for my friends birthday which is tomorrow!! Cannot wait to take a bite once it is all set haha. Love the recipe and notes which I have tried in incorporate. Would like to know how the custard version is made as you have mentioned it is more luxurious 😍 not sure how to add in the pictures and this is my first time commenting on a post!

    1. Zoha

      I hope you loved it, Sharadhi!! The custard version of mousse is definitely my favorite – it is a recipe I have included in my cake course, actually 🙂

  4. Mika Maust

    My family loves this easy chocolate mousse cake 😍. I made it for my little one’s birthday 💐❤️. It is so easy to make especially when I’m craving for The Triple Mousse Cake (in the cake course) but I don’t have much time to make. I totally recommend this and the Easy chocolate tiramisu. Zoha’s recipes is incredible!. Thank you Zoha for this yummy recipe!

    1. Zoha

      YAY! Thank you so much, Mika!

  5. Sarosh Yameen

    Hey Zoha! I have been following you for a while now and your recipes have always been so tempting. I finally braced myself to try this recipe and it turned out uhh-mazing!! It was just perfect – the ingredients, their measurements, and the balance of sweet and chocolate. Especially the mousse, so creamy and light. This really has motivated me to try out more of your desserts 😉 Thank you for sharing the most thorough and detailed recipes!

    1. Zoha

      I am so glad you finally took the leap, Sarosh 🙂 Thank you so much!

  6. Rabia

    Looks so tempting yet so easy to make. I always love your recipes they are full of flavors and the way you explain is simply phenomenal. Your effort in your videos and baking shows your keen interest in baking. Wish you more success and strength.

    1. Zoha

      Thank you SO SO SO much, Rabia!

  7. Simran

    Delicious dessert! This was my second time making this recipe. Very rich and creamy. My family loved it!

    1. Zoha

      Aww thank you!

  8. Maria

    Made it for my sister’s eid milan and it was delicious

    1. Zoha

      Thank you so much!

  9. Tegan

    This is literally the best mousse recipe you will ever try! I highly recommend it!

    1. Zoha

      Aww thank you so much, Tegan!!

  10. Hamna Arif

    Tried the mousse from this recipe and safe to say, this is now my go-to, no-fail, chocolate mousse recipe. It turned out so velvety and delicious! I made this with dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate!

    1. Zoha

      Yay I am so glad you like it!

  11. Haya

    This has become my most favourite dessert ever! So easy to make yet so flavourful. The mousse is to die for

    1. Zoha

      I am right there with you!

  12. Jasmine

    hello! I wanna make this for eid favours in individual ramekins. Inshallah! the cocoa powder that’s used, is it sweetened or unsweetened?

    1. Zoha

      Oh that sounds so wonderful! <3 Always unsweetened 🙂

  13. Meadow

    Just tried it, so yummy. How many calories are in one piece? Mine was a bit smaller than yours and I’m just trying to track calories? Thanks for the recipe !

    1. Zoha

      Hi Meadow! So glad you liked this recipe. I have not calculated the calories but you should be able to do that using an app like MyFitnessPal or Noom!

  14. Nina

    Amazing!

    1. Zoha

      Thank you Nina!

  15. Shehnaz Shaik

    Zoha I’ve been following you for awhile and I finally made this yesterday after all this time. I’m an Indian & I find the buttercream based cakes in The USA overwhlemingly sweet & dense I could barely finish a piece. This cake is just a dream. I did brush some simple syrup slightly infused with coffee to enhance the choc flavor. And the Mousse that tasted like chocolate icecream, I couldnt stop eating the leftover mousse. This was a test cake for my BFF’s birthday & now I cant wait to bake it for her. Thank you Zoha love ya.

    1. Zoha

      Hi Shehnaz! Thank you SOOOO much for such a kind and thorough review. I am so happy you enjoyed my recipe. <3 Hope you will try many more. Lots of love!

  16. Marcella

    This has become my go to dessert. My family loves it. I use my own chocolate cake base and I make in a 9x13x3 pan. The one thing I want to ask you is for stability I would like to try it with gelatin. When do you think is best to add the gelatin in this recipe? I do adjust my quantities for this size pan. Thank you very much ?

    1. Zoha

      Hello!! Thank you for the kind words. You can add gelatin into the ganache when it’s still hot. Just be sure to first bloom the gelatin in cold water

      1. Beth

        How much gelatin would we need to add? Also wanted to add that I made this cake for thanksgiving and it was thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

  17. Louise Gabriella Maria Robertson Pond

    The best cake and fruit in the world
    And I love tiramisu in low carbs and no alcohol

    1. Zoha

      Thank you, Louise!

  18. Louise Gabriella Maria Robertson Pond

    The best cake and fruit in the world

    1. Suruchi

      Please can you share the eggless recipe for the same

  19. Louise Gabriella Maria Robertson Pond

    The best cake in the world

  20. Marlia

    Made this for my husband’s birthday. It’s a keeper!

    1. Zoha

      YAY!

      1. Penelope

        Just made this for end of year celebrations and it turned out so well! Thank you for making the instructions so easy to follow – tastes amazing, and everyone loved it.

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